Background and context: The Bridge of Support Program (BOS) is adapting a successful community based model of peer support to an acute setting, at the Sunshine Hospital Breast Clinic, to meet the cultural and socioeconomic diverse needs of women with breast cancer. This two year project was funded by LUCRF Community Partnership Trust. Aim: To improve the experience of women undergoing treatment of breast cancer at Western Health. To improve access to psych-social, emotional and practical support for women by extending the reach of CounterPart- a state-wide service of women´s Health Victoria, funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to provide peer support and information to people affected by breast or a gynecologic cancer. Program/Policy process: Peer support volunteers actively guided women to current and credible evidence-based information, support decision making and provide emotional support. Peer support volunteers are rostered once a week at Sunshine Hospital to coincide with breast clinic and include access to the day oncology unit and radiotherapy center. Detailed contact information is recorded and women receive follow-up contact (with consent) from the peer support volunteers at the CounterPart Resource Centre in Melbourne. A CounterPart staff member oversees the project and provides direct support and supervision to the volunteers on site at the hospital. Women can self refer. Outcomes: Between February and December 2016 the BOS program had 159 separate contacts with patients and their families. 82 contacts were with men and women who were new to CounterPart and 77 were follow-up contacts. 90 individuals treated for breast cancer at Western Health accessed the program, which represent 53% of the women seen by the breast service. 48% of the contacts were follow-up contacts with the CounterPart volunteers indicating that once engaged with the service many men and women continue to make contact. 38% of contacts were with women diagnosed with metastatic disease, a group who often have higher levels of unmet or more complex needs. 49% were born in a nonmain English speaking country (compared with the overall state of Victoria average of 19.6%) thus reflecting an accessible service to the non-English speaking community. What was learned: At a time when peer support is being increasingly recognized as a key part of effective supportive care in cancer services, the BOS program offers a model of integrated peer support that is respected, reliable, well supported and safe within the acute setting. This acute-community sector partnership demonstrates how the medical and social models of health care can work together to provide a connected and quality service for men and women diagnosed with breast cancer. An active research approach is enabling the project to be responsive to issues and challenges as they arise including the ongoing recruitment of women as volunteers from the local community to work within the acute setting.
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